#1
Posted: 1/13/15 at 9:11pm
While awaiting the expected raves for the newest pretentious, sleep-inducing exercise in self-indulgence imported from Britain (How DOES that place churn out these things?), I thought it might be amusing to list the sort of phrases characteristically used to fawn over such tripe, all of which are coded messages for the actual truth. Of course, the knowledgeable theatregoer sees them exactly for what they are, but they keep popping up --- like weeds!
Anyhow, I've come up with a few. Perhaps others here can add their own favorites.
"Fascinating conceit." - The word "conceit," is always a tip-off that you are in for an evening of smug, pretentious, exasperating, and overpowering boredom.
"Dazzlingly clever wordplay." - Self-indulgent, excruciating babble.
"Requires an audience to think/ pay close attention" -- You'll be snoozing in 10 minutes.
"Highly praised in London." -- You'll be snoozing in five minutes.
"It's not for everyone" -- It's not for anyone--- anyone who seeks enjoyment, that is.
"It won't be everyone's cup of tea." - Undrinkable, Molly Brown.
"But I loved it/ found it fascinating/ stimulating/ bracing..." - In other words, I'm superior to the dense multitudes who will rebel sitting through this crap. Strictly for the snob set and snob wannabes.
"The music is not the kind that you will hum as you leave the theatre" - It's ugly.
"But it's brilliant." - It stinks.
"It pushes the envelope"- Crude, crass, and offensive --- for the delectation of the crude, crass, and offensive.
"An important new voice." --- Wear earplugs.
Anyhow, I've come up with a few. Perhaps others here can add their own favorites.
"Fascinating conceit." - The word "conceit," is always a tip-off that you are in for an evening of smug, pretentious, exasperating, and overpowering boredom.
"Dazzlingly clever wordplay." - Self-indulgent, excruciating babble.
"Requires an audience to think/ pay close attention" -- You'll be snoozing in 10 minutes.
"Highly praised in London." -- You'll be snoozing in five minutes.
"It's not for everyone" -- It's not for anyone--- anyone who seeks enjoyment, that is.
"It won't be everyone's cup of tea." - Undrinkable, Molly Brown.
"But I loved it/ found it fascinating/ stimulating/ bracing..." - In other words, I'm superior to the dense multitudes who will rebel sitting through this crap. Strictly for the snob set and snob wannabes.
"The music is not the kind that you will hum as you leave the theatre" - It's ugly.
"But it's brilliant." - It stinks.
"It pushes the envelope"- Crude, crass, and offensive --- for the delectation of the crude, crass, and offensive.
"An important new voice." --- Wear earplugs.
